'Not 100%' Samangan Forced to Miss 2,000 Guineas

The Aga Khan Studs homebred Samangan (Blue Point), last seen filling the runner-up spot in the G3 Prix Djebel, has been ruled out of Saturday's Betfred 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket.

Trained by Francis-Henri Graffard, Samangan was beaten just once in four starts as a two-year-old, notably winning the G2 Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte at Chantilly on his final outing. Hopes had been high of a big run at Newmarket following an encouraging return to action at Deauville, but his absence now means that the first British Classic of the season will go ahead without a French-trained runner.

Samangan had been a 14/1 chance with sponsors Betfred when his non-participation was announced.

Nemone Routh, racing manager for the Aga Khan Studs, said, “We weren't 100% pleased with his bloodwork this morning and we weren't 100% convinced after his work yesterday. It is nothing serious but, obviously, going into a Classic you need to be 100%. After we got the bloodwork back this morning, we made the decision not to run.

“I don't think it will keep him out for long and we've had a few similar examples. The filly who won yesterday [Zayida at Chantilly], we weren't very happy with her first run a month ago and then she came right back to her normal form.

“It's nothing particularly serious, just at this moment he is not 100%.”